Great Balloon Race floats into Galesburg for 17th year

Thursday

Jul 27, 2017 at 8:00 AMJul 27, 2017 at 10:58 AM

By Kylee NorvilleThe Register-Mail

GALESBURG — The 17th annual Great Balloon Race of Galesburg comes to Lake Storey this weekend.

According to organizers Greg and Jackie Saul, there will be 18 hot air balloons present this year from Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri and Arizona. One of these balloons will be the POW/MIA balloon from St. Cloud, Minnesota.

The Sauls have been flying together for 28 years. Greg started before he met Jackie as a part of his brother’s crew for 15 years.

“I enjoyed it and I had been up with my brother several times,” Greg explained. “So much that I wanted to get my own license.”

Jackie said Greg brought the idea to her attention.

“I told him, ‘sure,’ ” Jackie said.

And their adventure in the air began.

Throughout their time flying, Greg and Jackie decided to start the Great Balloon Race in 2000.

“We wanted to have a free, family event,” Jackie said. “We wanted families to have something to do.”

The balloon fest will kick off Friday, weather permitting.

There will be a wide variety of festivities, starting with several food vendors, including but not limited to carnival food and drinks such as pork chop sandwiches, corn dogs, onion rings, lemon-shake ups, kettle corn, and popcorn, as well as some crafts and games. The vendors will open around 3 p.m. Friday and Saturday and remain until the night glow.

Also during this estimated time frame both nights, there will be an airbrush tattoo artist and Spin to Win Wheel with prizes.

Around 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, there will be parachute racing, weather permitting.

“Contestants will have parachutes strapped on their backs as they run,” Jackie explained. “It’s a speed race.”

The Sauls said they will have age categories and there will be gifts for winners.

“People can just show up and participate,” Greg said. “There is no sign-up needed.”

There will also be crafts for the kids available through the Galesburg Civic Art Center.

At approximately 6 both nights, the balloons will launch and fly over the field.

“They will try to throw a beanbag at the X in the field,” Greg said. “People can come and watch the balloons fly in to Lake Storey.”

At dusk on Friday night, half of the balloons with light up for the night glow.